Waves on Porthmeor Beach
In Waves on Porthmeor Beach (1995), Sandra Blow captures the rhythmic ebb and flow of the ocean through undulating graphic lines that weave across the paper. These dark lines — both bold and slender — intersect and curve in a dynamic interplay, distilling the motion of the waves with a graceful tension. The work evokes the muted tones and textural qualities of Blow’s early abstract paintings, while merging them with the more graphic style of her later works. A tribute to the Cornwall coastline, which was central to her life and artistic development, this piece reflects her deep connection to the region. Blow first moved to St Ives in 1957, when the town was internationally recognised as an important outpost for the development of modern art, and returned permanently in 1994. There, she collaborated with performance writer Alaric Sumner on the book Waves on Porthmeor Beach: A Diary (1995), of which this work is part, a project that explores the relationship between word and image while reflecting on the coastal landscape that so profoundly influenced her.
